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Bower SFD926N Digital Shoe Mount Flash for Nikon SLR
- Price: $99.95
- Free Shipping (USA)
- In Stock
- B&H # BOSFD926N
- Mfr# SFD926N
Product Highlights
- Compatible with Nikon Metering
- Autofocus TTL Power Zoom
- Built-In Diffuser and Reflector Panel
- IGBT Circuitry
Remember the Essentials
Batteries are required but not included with this item. Please be sure to purchase batteries for this item.
The Bower SFD926N Digital Shoe Mount Flash is an economical flash with complete TTL exposure support for digital SLR cameras. This version is dedicated to the Nikon I-TTL metering system.
The flash features an autofocus, auto-zoom flash head, which auto-senses the focal length of the camera's lens, and adjusts itself accordingly, within the range of 24mm to 85mm. It can also tilt and swivel for complete creative control. Additionally, there is a built-in slave mode, diffuser and reflector allowing further control and modification of the light output. It is an ideal economical all-around flash for any digital or 35mm autofocus SLR shooter. An optional stand is available.
- Head movements include zoom, bounce and swivel
- Built-in diffuser and reflector panel
- IGBT flash circuitry
- Slave Mode
| Mount | Shoe |
| Guide No. | 125' (38.10 m) ISO100 at 85 mm position |
| Exposure Control | Manual/TTL |
| Angle of Coverage | 24° - 85° |
| TTL Dedication | Yes |
| Bounce Head | Yes, +0° to +90° |
| Swivel Head | Yes, 270° |
| Coverage | 24 mm - 85 mm (Full frame) |
| Zoom Head | Full frame: 24 mm - 85 mm |
| Compensation | None |
| Wireless Communication Channels | None |
| Wireless Groups | None |
| Power Source | 4x AA Alkaline, NiCad, Rechargeable Ni-MH Batteries |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | None |
| Weight | None |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 96 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
90%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Easy to use (74)
- Lightweight (47)
- Versatile (41)
- Good power output (38)
- Consistent output (35)
Cons
- Slow recycling (12)
- Heavy / bulky (8)
- Slow focus (5)
- Heavy (3)
- Inconsistent output (3)
Best Uses
- General purpose (68)
- Portraits (66)
- Fill flash (60)
- Night photography (30)
- Photojournalism (17)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Photo enthusiast (34), Semi-pro photographer (31), Casual photographer (13), Enthusiast (5), Pro photographer (5)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (61), Yes (8)
Most Liked Positive Review
Save a buck
I purchased this primarily for the fact that it works off camera with a built in optical slave, something the SB-600 (for twice as much) doesn't even do out of the box. ...Read complete review
I purchased this primarily for the fact that it works off camera with a built in optical slave, something the SB-600 (for twice as much) doesn't even do out of the box. It's sensor is plenty sensitive, as long as you swivel the head to face the sensor towards your camera's built in flash. I've powered my camera's flash all the way down to 1/32 and had no problems triggering this flash. I haven't taken it outside, yet.
I use it with my D40. Mounted on camera, it's automatic settings, including i-ttl work just fine. When you bounce it, it automatically zooms the flash to 50mm. The head tilts and swivels in all directions. You can point the camera straight down and swivel and bounce the flash behind and above you.
The manual included left a little to be desired. I read the SB-600 has directions for a particular feature on page 38. The manual included with this flash is a large sheet, quickly describing features in clear English (unlike the 'manual' for my Cowboy Studio 2x160 w/s strobes that were practically indecipherable).
I'm happy I listened to my wallet. I would have bought the SB-400 and really missed out on the ability to trigger it off-camera without adapters or receivers. I might've bought the SB-600, and supplemented it with an optical slave, for more than twice as much. The SB-800/900 is just not possible in my budget.
I highly recommend it for anyone, especially if you're looking for all of the features of the more expensive OEM flashes on a budget.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Good flash for the money
This flash is a very good choice if you do not want to spend the money for the Nikon SB-900, but want comparable flash strength and range (guide #). It even works ...Read complete review
This flash is a very good choice if you do not want to spend the money for the Nikon SB-900, but want comparable flash strength and range (guide #). It even works pretty well outside the published ranges. It does an excellent job of producing correct exposures in direct flash mode. The bounce capability and flexibility is also very good to excellent. I get best bounce results by taking a test shot or two and using manual mode.
It does have some limitations when used with my Nikon D5000. It often produces over exposures if the camera is set in Auto ISO mode. This is probably related to the observations below. It does not recognize camera ISO settings other than 200, 400, & 800. Also it does not recognize camera f-stop settings other than f/5.6, f/8, & f/11. The camera has several other ISO & f-stop settings in between and beyond those values. Also, the camera info attached to the picture file only records the flash mode as TTL-BL, never as iTTL-BL. I do not know if that is meaningful.
I am somewhere between a casual user and an enthusiast. I would recommend this flash for casual users with a budget and for many enthusiasts. I would probably not recommend it for really serious users who want perfect communication between camera and flash. That probably requires Nikon.
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 96 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-20
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Pros
- Versatile
Cons
- Slow Recycling
Best Uses
- General Use
Comments about Bower SFD926N Digital Shoe Mount Flash for Nikon SLR:
I bought this flash because it offered bounce/swivel at a good price. It worked well for the first 4 or 5 uses then suddenly would no longer power on. No big deal, I figured since it is still well within the warranty I can send it in for a replacement. What a failure this process has been.I called Bower and dealt with Victor who requested that I ship them the broken unit along with a check for return shipping. Strange for a business to ask a customer to pay shipping both ways on a damaged item I thought, but ok. I ship the item and two weeks goes by. Nothing. Finally I call Victor who informs me that they do not have this unit in stock and when they do he will ship it out. I call a week later, he takes my number and says he will call back which never happens. When the unit finally arrives guess what...it's an obviously used unit that is also broken! Probably the same one I sent in. The battery casing had corrosion markings all over the inside leaving no doubt. So let this be a warning, if your looking for quality, move on and spend the extra bucks. This thing while offering some nice perks will more than likely fail on you. Then you may get a replacement unit which isn't a replacement. Needless to say I wont be purchasing anything Bower from now on. tldr; Unit failed after 4 uses. Warranty failed after 1 use.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Portraits
Comments about Bower SFD926N Digital Shoe Mount Flash for Nikon SLR:
Used for fill falsh and bounce for portraits of family.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
- Recommended:
- Soft box.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Bower SFD926N Digital Shoe Mount Flash for Nikon SLR:
I purchased this flash for my Nikon D80 to do the photography at an event out in Palm Springs/Rancho Mirage area. Everything started out fine, the pictures were turning out very nice and it worked great outdoors for fill-in flash. I really liked the built-in diffuser and reflector panel. HOWEVER!, on the second day the flash stopped working. It would not charge up, it would start but stop a couple of seconds into the cycle. I was stuck using the built-in flash for the rest of the conference. Which was useless for any wide angle or long distance shots and forget about any fill-in shots. Nice flash but CAN NOT BE TRUSTED! Going to try the Sunpack PZ42X. Hope for better luck.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Powerful Output
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Bower SFD926N Digital Shoe Mount Flash for Nikon SLR:
It worked right after I received it for 4 test shots in my living room. Then when it was time to do an assignment, it would turn on and I could hear a faint charge but it wouldn't flash no matter what I tried. None of the buttons were doing anything either. I'm returning it now and buying a name brand. It may be more expensive, but hopefully it won't die forever after 4 shots.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Fast Recycling
- Versatile
Cons
- Bulky
- No CLS Support
- Short Battery-Life
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
Comments about Bower SFD926N Digital Shoe Mount Flash for Nikon SLR:
So far, this flash is great. It has a fast recycle time, manual mode, optical slave; much more functionality than you would expect for the price. I would suggest rechargeable batteries though, as it goes through them fast.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Easy To Use
- Fast Recycling
Cons
- Loud
- Not Very Durable
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Portraits
Comments about Bower SFD926N Digital Shoe Mount Flash for Nikon SLR:
This one has everything that the original Nikon flash does, for a fraction of a cost (Nikon is 3 times more expensive). Of course, there are little tiny details that remind you what you paid for it. For example, the battery door has weak hinges, looks like it's going to break off. Same with the bouncer head. But treat it gently, and it will last.
Recycling is about 5 seconds, consistent output.
Controls are not intuitive, but you don't have to use them, just point and shoot.
Focusing is a bit loud, that might be an issue in children photography. I bought for studio portraits, it's all right so far.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Fast Recycling
- Lightweight
Cons
- Doesn't last
- Slow Focus
Best Uses
- Night Photography
Comments about Bower SFD926N Digital Shoe Mount Flash for Nikon SLR:
I am a wedding photographer, and I got this flash about a year ago. It's been great, and I've been extremely impressed with it's capabilities for just [$], but all that changed when it died on me during a wedding last night!!! I can't give it a low rating because it's been great for the past year and has an extremely fast recycling time, but I can't give it a thumbs up because now I'm about to invest in a 350 dollar nikon flash because I don't want this to happen again. I'd say, if you're a professional, or seriously getting into the business go for a more quality product.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Fast Recycling
- Lightweight
- Powerful Output
Cons
- Slow Focus
- Weak Output
Best Uses
- General Use
Comments about Bower SFD926N Digital Shoe Mount Flash for Nikon SLR:
mostly taking night shots indoor.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Lightweight
- Versatile
Cons
- LCD Hard to See
- Poor Documentation
Best Uses
- General Use
Comments about Bower SFD926N Digital Shoe Mount Flash for Nikon SLR:
Have used the flash only once so far. Used it with a Nikon D80 to shoot a local performance on the green at the town hall, both for fill during daylight, and later for exposure after sunset. Pretty powerful. It gave pretty good results in the TTL mode. At closer distances, I made some exposure compensation adjustments to reduce exposure (stop down). Recycle time was good. Very limited documentation in very fine print which is a challenge to the eyesight for seniors.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Great price
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- General Use
Comments about Bower SFD926N Digital Shoe Mount Flash for Nikon SLR:
I have both a Nikon SB700 and this Bower speedlight--the Bower is better. Its TTL function works as well as the Nikon. It also operates as an optical slave, which the Nikon won't do. And the Bower's slave function works better than the Nikon's Commander function, at least in terms of distance and angle. That's my experience, after using the Bower for several months. Given the difference in price, the Bower is a no-brainer.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Easy To Use
- Fast Recycling
- Lightweight
- Powerful Output
Cons
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Portraits
Comments about Bower SFD926N Digital Shoe Mount Flash for Nikon SLR:
Seems to work well - on my camera
I have to turn it down to -2 stops - exposures are great then.
I'd recommend it.
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes
Pros
- Easy To Use
Cons
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Portraits
Comments about Bower SFD926N Digital Shoe Mount Flash for Nikon SLR:
I was looking for something to replace/supplement my SB-400 to use with my D3000. I need something that swivels so I can bounce off the ceiling while holding the camera vertically, and the SB-700 is just not in my budget.
For the price, this does everything I need it to, and more. I had a little bit of an issue using the slave mode at first, because I didn't realize that the pre-flash from the on camera flash was firing the slave. Once I figured out that I had to put my on camera flash in manual mode, I was good to go.
I like the built in reflector and diffuser. Overall it's very easy to use, especially for someone who is still learning.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Versatile
Cons
- Heavy
- Inconsistent Output
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Photojournalism
- Portraits
Comments about Bower SFD926N Digital Shoe Mount Flash for Nikon SLR:
Needed a flash in a hurry that wouldn't break the bank. This option by Bower surprised and came through. The flash seems well constructed (time will tell). On the 5th photoshoot the slide out diffuser broke off and I can't get it back into the slot. Which is irritating because it also helps to hold the bounce card in place. Been using standard Energizer batteries and need to switch to the best ones I can find. Heavy use, like for a fashion runway show the flash won't recycle fast enough or powerful enough. For shots where timing isn't tight, this flash is awesome. It also triggers my portable studio flashes without changing anything. Very handy!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Fast Recycling
- Versatile
Cons
- none
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Portraits
Comments about Bower SFD926N Digital Shoe Mount Flash for Nikon SLR:
I use the flash for all of my indoor shoots. Does a wonderful job everytime. This flash is very easy to use, it sets itself. I havnt found anything that I don't like about the flash.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Versatile
Cons
- Heavy
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Photojournalism
- Portraits
Comments about Bower SFD926N Digital Shoe Mount Flash for Nikon SLR:
I was in need of a flash far more powerful than the onboard one my Nikon D-80 is equiped with. Of course I wanted the latest and greatest Nikon, but I just couldn't afford it. After trying to shop around town locally I gave up and came here. Best decision I could have made. I decided on this Bower flash because it had all the features I felt I would be needing at a price I could manage. Tilt, swivel, zoom, syncs with the iTTL & can be used as a slave! Great deal. Had a chance to shoot with my basic flash studio lights also and was happy discover that everything synced together nicely just by shooting the way I always do. Such an improvement in my photos! Wish I had bought this sooner!!
Could have used a little faster recycle time, will have to test better batteries next shoot. There was some inconsistencies with exposure, but nothing a little Camera RAW editing couldn't fix. As I get used to shooting with the flash I'm sure I'll overcome those issues.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Powerful Output
- Price
Cons
- Quality
Best Uses
- Back-Up
- Ocassioanal amateur
Comments about Bower SFD926N Digital Shoe Mount Flash for Nikon SLR:
I tried to use this flash for my Real Estate Photo business. First unit lasted for 2 (two) days and refused to power up after 20 shots, so it went back to B&H.
The second one lasted 1 month, so I had to send it to Bower. The third one worked for 4 months and lost the TTL ability. I'm not getting the forth one. Not from Bower.
It may be good for ocassional amateur shooting, or back up unit. When it works, it works fine.
You get what you pay for.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
- Similar:
- Nikon SB600
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Easy To Use
- Fast Recycling
- Powerful Output
Cons
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
Comments about Bower SFD926N Digital Shoe Mount Flash for Nikon SLR:
No N CLS support, worked well with duracell rechargeable batteries, recle time 4-5 secs. Good for normal use. May not be a choice for fast photography
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Fast Recycling
- Powerful Output
Cons
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Portraits
Comments about Bower SFD926N Digital Shoe Mount Flash for Nikon SLR:
I bought the Bower SFD926N because as I didn't want to spend 2-3 times as much for Nikon models.
If you're in the same shoes, you won't be disappointed. For the price this is the great flash. My indoor photography has improved by great extent.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Good to Learn
- Lightweight
- Versatile
Cons
- Build Quality
- Reliability
- Slow Recycling
- Weak Output
Best Uses
- General Use
Comments about Bower SFD926N Digital Shoe Mount Flash for Nikon SLR:
This Flash is a great flash for the price. My dad saw no difference between this and the Nikon SB700. But he got it. This flash lasted me maybe 2 weeks before it wouldn't even power on. You get what you get for the price. I'm not even going to bother sending this back going to get it repaired then i'm just going to give it away. I'm never buying any Bower or SamYang branded product again. Just stick with the Nikon brand. It's around $200 more but your getting quality, and the support from Nikon Canada.
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Powerful Output
Cons
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- Night Photography
- Portraits
Comments about Bower SFD926N Digital Shoe Mount Flash for Nikon SLR:
Great flash (used with universal diffuser)for photographing people seated at dimly lit tables. Nice color and flattering light for groups 20 ft away
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Batteries & Power
Show more >Required item:
- Price: $1.23
- Price: $14.50
Flash Diffusers
Show more >
- Price: $9.95
Softboxes
Show more >
- Price: $20.75
Bouncers
Show more >
- Price: $14.95
Reflectors
Show more >
- Price: $24.95
Flash Mounting
- Price: $7.95
Sync Cords & Flash Remotes
Show more >
- Price: $14.99
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